Indigenous Literacy Day is a day to share the diversity of First Nations languages, culture, and stories, while also raising awareness about educational struggles within First Nations communities.

This year’s theme, ‘Strength in Our Stories: For Now & Future Generations’, celebrates the significance of storytelling in First Nations communities, and the work being done by them to preserve their languages and stories for future generations.

For Mak Mak Marranunggu woman Shinai Bright, who works for AnglicareSA’s Communities For Children Onkaparinga, storytelling has always been at the heart of her culture.

“We are big storytellers,” Shinai said.

“It is so important to continue stories and pass them on to future generations.”

When the opportunity to write a children’s picture book as part of the global reading initiative Library For All’s Our Yarning collection came up, Shinai jumped at the chance.

The Our Yarning collection is a free digital library of books written by First Nations people for First Nations children, with the aim of addressing the impact of lower levels of literacy and education attainment among First Nations people.

“I had always wanted to write a children’s book; it was on my bucket list,” Shinai said.

“Library For All put out calls for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors to attend a three-day children’s book writing workshop, which is where I wrote my book.”

 

 

Shinai’s book, Crocodiles in my Uncle’s Yard!, which was published in 2022, was inspired by her own childhood.

“It’s loosely based on a true story – my family live out in the Finniss River region in the Northern Territory, and in the wet season when it would rain, my uncle’s backyard would flood and attract crocodiles,” Shinai said.

For Shinai, the motivation behind writing her book was clear – she wanted First Nations children to open a book and see themselves reflected in its pages.

“Stories like Princess and the Pea are not relatable to First Nations children living in a remote community,” Shinai said.

“As a child, I didn’t see a lot of representation in children’s books, so it was important for me to create a book that First Nations children can feel represents their lives, community, and culture.

“The book is also sharing our stories and our culture.”

To learn more about Shinai’s book or the Our Yarning Collection, please visit Library for All’s website.